Vertebral Column (Spine)

Question 1

What is the general structure of the vertebra?

Answer 1

body, vertebral arch, processes, notches

Question 2

What is the vertebral body?

Answer 2

support of body weight

connected to adjacent bodies by intervertebral disks

Question 3

What is the vertebral arch?

Answer 3

formed posteriorly by pedicles and laminae (thin plates)

protects the spinal cord

Question 4

What are the types of vertebral processes?

Answer 4

superior and inferior articular processes

spinous and transverse processes

Question 5

Which vertebral processes are for muscle attachment and movement?

Answer 5

spinous processes

transverse processes

Question 6

Where are superior and inferior articular processes located?

Answer 6

at junctions of pedicles and laminae

Question 7

Where are notches located?

Answer 7

between body anteriorly and articular processes posteriorly

Question 8

What do notches form?

Answer 8

notches of adjacent vertebrae form intervertebral foramina

Question 9

The spinal nerves transmit into?

Answer 9

Intervertebral foramen

Question 10

What are the regional characteristics of cervical vertebrae?

Answer 10

7 vertebrae w/ 8 cervical nerves
has foramen transversarium for vertebral arteries
flexion, extension lateral bending, rotation
have thick intervertebral descales and nuchal ligament

Question 11

How does C1 (atlas) differ from C2(axis)?

Answer 11

C1- ring-like w/ no body or spinous process; allows for Yes movement (flexion and extension)
C2- has odontoid process(dens) that project up into C1 atlas and allows for rotation of atlas
allows for No movement

Question 12

What are the regional characteristics of thoracic vertebrae?

Answer 12

12 vertebrae w/ 12 nerves
have costal facets on body and transverse processes
movement of head and ribs
limited to rotation due to thin discs, overlapping spines, and attachment of ribs

Question 13

What are regional characteristics of lumbar vertebrae?

Answer 13

5 vertebrae with 5 nerves
thick intervertebral discs
allow for flexion, extension, lateral bending, rotation limited
no foramen or costal facets

Question 14

What are regional characteristics of sacral?

Answer 14

5 fused vertebrae with 5 nerves
forms the sacrum
body weight

Question 15

What are regional characteristics of coccygeal?

Answer 15

4 vertebrae with 1 nerve
forms coccyx
tailbone

Question 16

What is the composition of intervertebral discs?

Answer 16

outer anulus fibrousus of dense fibrous tissue

inner softer nucleus pulposus (~70-80% water)

Question 17

What is the function of intervertebral discs?

Answer 17

they act as shock absorbers
by squeezing out fluid ( thus at night you are shorter by 1/4”)
discs can dehydrate from mechanical pressure and rehydrate at rest

Question 18

What is a herniated disc?

Answer 18

extrusion of nucleus pulpous through annulus fibrosis

pain and/or loss of motor skills due to pinched spinal nerves or spinal cord

Question 19

What are the types of longitudinal ligaments?

Answer 19

Anterior and Posterior Ligaments

Question 20

What do the longitudinal ligaments connect?

Answer 20

Vertebral bodies

Question 21

What does the ligamentum flavum “yellow ligament” connect?

Answer 21

laminae

Question 22

What does the interspinous and supraspinous ligaments connect?

Answer 22

spine

Question 23

What is the nuchal ligament?

Answer 23

thickened supraspinous ligament in cervical

Question 24

What is Kyphosis and Who is more prone to the abnormality?

Answer 24

exaggeration of thoracic curvature “large hump”

older individuals

Question 25

What is Lordosis and Who is more prone to the abnormality?

Answer 25

exaggeration of lumbar curvature

morbidly obese individuals and pregnant women in late term pregnancies

Question 26

What is Scolosis and Who is more prone to the abnormality?

Answer 26

complex lateral bending/torsion of vertebral column

many cases are idiopathic (not known)